Collapsible container



July 15, 1958 L. w. EPPLER COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 16, 1955 INVENTOR Lawrercce W YEPPIBI'.

United rates Patent 1 Claim. (Ci. 206 655) This invention relates to collapsible containers, and more particularly to a practical, simple and efiicient vice for assembling, storing and transporting cylindrical articles such for example, as cold drawn parts.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pair of spaceable panel elements which may be drawn together against the ends of the articles to hold the same in place, thereby utilizing the articles themselves as a part of the container when set up for use. After the articles have been removed from between the panels, the latter may be readily stacked flush one upon the other, or collapsed for reshipment to the point of assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con tainer including panels having inwardly facing flanges at all inner sides thereof, said flanges supporting and confining the objects being handled both in a vertical and horizontal plane.

With the above and other objects in view as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view with the panels separated to show the inside faces thereof.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the panels assembled for use in connection with the articles to be assembled and transported.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the panels in their collapsed condition for return shipment.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the container completely filled.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

The panels A and B are complementary in the respect that each of them include marginal frames of angle members providing the top flanges 1, side flanges 2, and bottom flanges 3 extending inwardly and providing a marginal rim for supporting the cylindrical articles x as shown in Figure 2.

Each of the panels A and B may have their body areas Within the frames and bounded by the flanges 1, 2 and 3 made of plywood, sheet metal or other material.

The inner article confining flanges 1, 2-2 and 3 are each a part of the aforesaid frame and the outer flanges 1 2 and 3 embrace and cover the outer edge portions of the related panel. In other words, each panel A and B is set into a frame made of angle members and the inwardly directed flanges such as 1, 22 and 3 each face the opposite panel.

The outer side of each panel may be provided with vertical reinforcing elements 4 which have their extremities secured to the outer flanges 1 and 3 and extend from the top to the bottom of each frame, and serve to stiffen and strengthen the body areas of the panels proper against the force of compressing the panels together as will presently appear.

Each of the frames have their front and rear corners provided with feet 5 so that each frame, when resting on the floor, has its lower flanges 3 spaced thereabove so that the fork of a lift-truck can be inserted beneath the assembly and articles therein to be moved from one place to another.

in setting up the panels initially, it is proposed to use a temporary spacing member C which holds the upper ends of the panels upright while the cylindrical articles at are loaded between the panels. As shown, the underside of the member C is recessed near its ends as at C to receive the top flanges 1-1.

If the articles are longer than the brace or clamp C for one set of articles, then a brace of greater length can be used to temporarily hold the upper edges of the frame of each panel against outward movement.

As shown for example in Figure 2, the first layer of articles x rest on the lower flanges ?3 for vertical support and are also held against lateral displacement by flanges The side flanges are eachprovided with a slot 2 and the top flange 1 is provided with a slot 1 These slots are intended to receive flexible straps: S having conventional crimp-type seal so that when the straps are made taut, the panels A and B will be clamped against the ends of articles, or, in other Words, will compress the articles between the panels to provide a rigid package or container. As will be seen from the drawing, shifting of the articles is not possible because of the formations which lock the ends of stacked or layered articles in place.

To transport the articles when the container is filled as shown in Figure 4, it is only necessary to move them by the lift-truck to the desired location. To unload the con- I tainer, the straps S may be released to permit the articles to be removed, and ultimately the two panels may be laid face to face as shown for example in Figure 3 for co11- venient return to the assembly point for re-fill.

The present invention provides a practical form of container wherein the panels A and B are substantial duplicates, and can be readily set up with great facility to receive the articles to be assembled and transported.

1 claim:

A package comprising a container and a plurality of elongated articles stacked therein, said container consisting of two opposed rectangular rigid wall panels, each having a marginal angle member providing inwardly directed article engaging flanges at the top, side and bottom edges of the facing sides of said wall panels, said bottom flanges having feet integral therewith and the top and side portions having cooperating slots and the wall portions and flanges supporting and confining the ends of the articles stacked therein, and flexible strap means in said slots for releasably drawing the panels together to forcibly clamp the Wall portions in engagement with the ends of said articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,493 Hornaday et al July 21, 1903 820,896 Patten May 15, 1906 876,900 Edwards Jan. 4, 1908 1,605,901 ONeil Nov. 2, 1926 1,607,711 Walker Nov. 23, 1926 1,697,613 Ross Jan. 1, 1929 1,910,783 Way May 23, 1933 1,940,665 Coyle Dec. 26, 1933 2,593,472 McGinn Apr. 22, 1952 2,670,984 Arthur Mar. 2, 1954 2,686,646 McMillon Aug. 17, 1954 Patented July 15, 

